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Earlier we took a close look at Bob Barth's Submariner, a watch that will command top dollar ($150,000) due to its spectacular provenance. This past weekend, a different Submariner sold at an Antiquorum auction that also has a pretty interesting history, and it sold for nearly a quarter million dollars. The watch's past owner was not a diver or movie star, rather it was Israel's most powerful man in the 50's and 60's, Isser Harel. What's more, the watch was estimated to sell between $20,000 and 30,000. So what led to the astronomic price it ended up selling for?

Isser Harel was director of the Mossad from 1952 until 1963, a rather tumultuous decade for the young State of Israel. Shortly after the creation of Israel in 1948, Harel formed and became director of the State's international security agency, Shin Bet. A role that would see his involvement is multiple historic events over the course of his tenure. His power grew when, in 1952, he was named director of the Mossad, Israel's institute of intelligence and special operations. Harel is perhaps best known for his oversight of the capture and secret transportation to Israel, of holocaust organizer Adolf Eichmann.

At the conclusion of his role as director of the Mossad, Haser was gifted the Rolex we see here. A 1959 Submariner with pointed crown guards and a meter first dial. Standard Rolex up front, but on the case back is engraved with emblem of the State of Israel, encircled by the motto of the Mossad and Isser Harel's name written in Hebrew.

We weren't in the room for the bidding, but there must have been stiff competition for this historically significant watch as it brought it beat estimates by a factor of 10. The winning bid: 248,500 CHF. Whoever hit the winning bid of 248,500 CHF got a fine example of a 5512 and a great conversation piece. See the listing here.

So you say you wanna be like Steve McQueen, eh? Judging from the number of posts talking about this man on our blogging brethrens websites, we have to say he's as much of a men's style icon as he is anything else at this point, and the Wall Street Journal tends to agree. Sure, McQueen had those Persol Sunglasses, and that Heuer Monaco, but in reality he only wore that while filming. Then there is McQueen's connection to Rolex, superseded only by his good buddy Paul Newman's connection with the watchmaker.

For years and years collectors called the original Rolex Explorer II (ref 1655) the "Steve McQueen Explorer", after someone had been told that this was the timepiece Steve wore on a day to day basis. The supposed McQueen connection coupled with that bright orange 24-hour hand caused this model to absolutely sky-rocket in price. The funny thing is, McQueen never wore this watch, and was certainly never photographed wearing it.

What McQueen ACTUALLY wore was the higher grade (chronometer rated) version of your typical no-date Submariner, a watch called the Reference 5512 Submariner (the most common, non-chronometer rated Subs are ref 5513). How do we know he wore a 5512 Sub? Well, there are about 23,000 pictures of him wearing it. And he even wore it in his final film, the Hunter.

McQueen's Final Scene In His Final Film, Wearing The Reference 5512 Submariner

We also know that McQueen wore a 5512 Submariner because just last year Antiquorum sold his actual Rolex for an astounding $234,000. Since that sale, the desirability of the rare 5512 Submariner has gone up considerably, while the "Orange Hand" has seen prices slide. The 5512 Submariner is much harder to come by than your typical 5513, and if you want to do your best King of Cool, you'd better make it an early 70s "4-line" version. Lucky for you, we exist.

The watch we have found today is something you just don't see every day. It is indeed a 4-Line Submariner 5512 just like McQueen wore every day of his life, but it also happens to come with all original boxes and documentation. This means with this McQueen Submariner you're getting set of open perforated papers, Rolex service booklet, service papers, chronometer certification and original box. All are dated 1972, just like the caseback of the watch, and what makes this better than even Steve's watch sold last year is that the hands, dial, and pearl are lightly and evenly faded. The only downside of this sale is that it does not include a bracelet, but you can easiliy throw on an inexpensive NATO strap and you're cooking with gas.

This amazing 1970s Rolex Submariner 5512 set is being offered at a shade under $9000, which, considering that this is actually the model Rolex Steve McQueen wore, seems pretty fair. This is an investment grade Sub, and if you fancy yourself the reincarnation of McQueen, this is what needs to be on your wrist. Click here for details.

As many of you probably know, Tudor is a subsidiary of Rolex that sells similarly themed watches for slightly less than the price of a Rolex. While they are certainly not a Rolex, they are still very solid timepieces. Rolex cases and crowns, and much of that Rolex finish but with heavily modified ETA movements that are adjusted to Rolex spec...to us, that sounds pretty good. The only difference really is the ETA vs. Rolex movement and the name on the face. They have been absent from the scene in the US for a while but their new Grantour watch is a stunner, and it is also the official timepiece of Porsche Motorsports...not bad right?

This is today, but how about about in decades past? Today we are going to look at two Tudors that we think are pretty damn cool. The first is Tudor Big Block Chronograph. Let's say the year is 1985, and all you want in life is a Rolex Daytona, but you just can't scrape together the cash. This is the watch you would buy. Originally thought of as just a cheaper Daytona, this watch has since taken on an identity of its own. Reason being it's got an enormous "Big Block" case, the likes of which haven't been seen on any other Rolex. It also has a cyclops date window, and even stranger, a rotating bezel. A rotating bezel on a chronograph doesn't make much sense, but that's the beauty of this watch. This watch has the most desired color scheme of this model and could be considered a poor-man's "Panda" Daytona, but we don't like to call it that. We call it a strange and interesting watch from a distant period in Rolex's history. Click here for the details.

The second watch made by Tudor that we've found today is a Submariner. Yes, it even goes by the same name as the Rolex model. However, what makes this 1970s Tudor Submariner special is that it has never, ever been worn. This is New Old Stock in its purest form. This watch still has the plastic on the clasp and sticker on the caseback. It has original papers and Tudor hang tag. Needless to say, this watch is in absolutely perfect condition. It is a great looking Submariner (w/ date). Click here for the details.

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Friday March 3, 2012

HODINKEE is one of the most widely read wristwatch publications in the world. Launched in 2008 by then 25-year-old Benjamin Clymer, the site quickly gained notoriety for earnest looks at some of the industry’s most interesting, and occasionally forgotten timepieces.